28 September

"OPEN YOUR MIND AND HEART--your entire being--to receive My Love in full measure. So many of My children limp through their lives starved for Love, because they haven't learned the art of receiving. This is essentially an act of faith: believing that I love you with boundless, everlasting Love. The art of receiving is also a discipline: training your mind to trust Me, coming close to Me with confidence.

Remember that the evil one is the father of lies. Learn to recognize his deceptive into your thoughts. One of his favorite deceptions is to undermine your confidence in My unconditional Love. Fight back against these lies! Do not let them go unchallenged. Resist the devil in My Name, and he will slink away from you. Draw near to Me, and My Presence will envelope you in Love."

Ephesians 3:16-19; Hebrews 4:14-16; John 8:44; James 4:7-8

27 September

"RELAX IN MY EVERLASTING ARMS. Your weakness is an opportunity to grow strong in awareness of My Almighty Presence. When your energy fails you, do not look inward and lament the lack you find there. Look to Me and My sufficiency; rejoice in My radiant riches that are abundantly available to help you.

Go gently through this day, leaning on Me and enjoying My Presence. Thank Me for your neediness, which is building trust-bonds between us. If you look back on your journey thus far, you can see that days of extreme weakness have been some of your most precious times. Memories of these days are richly interwoven with golden strands of My intimate Presence."

Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 27:13-14

26 September

"COME TO ME AND LISTEN! Attune yourself to My voice, and receive M richest blessings. Marvel at the wonder of communing with the Creator of the universe while sitting in the comfort of your home. Kings who reign on earth tend to make themselves inaccessible; ordinary people almost never gain an audience with them. Even dignitaries must plow through red tape and protocol in order to speak with royalty.

Though I am King of the universe, I am totally accessible to you. I am with you wherever you are. Nothing can separate you from My Presence! When I cried out from the cross, "It is finished!" the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This opened the way for you to meet Me face-to-Face, with no need of protocol or priests. I, the King of kings, am your constant Companion.

Isaiah 50:4; Isaiah 55:2-3; Matthew 27:50-51

25 September

"POUR ALL OF YOUR ENERGY into trusting Me. It is through trust that you stay connected to Me, aware of My Presence. Every step on your life-journey can be a step of faith. Baby steps of trust are simple for you; you can take them with almost unconscious ease. Giant steps are another matter altogether: leaping across chasms in semidarkness, scaling cliffs of uncertainty, trudging through the valley of the shadow of death. These feats require sheer concentration, as well as utter commitment to Me.

Each of My children is a unique blend of temperament, gifted-ness, and life experiences. Something that is a baby step for you may be a giant step for another person, and vice versa. Only I know the difficulty or ease of each segment of your journey. Before of trying to impress others by acting as if your giant steps are only baby ones. Do not judge others who hesitate, in  trembling fear, before an act that would be easy for you. If each of My children would seek to please Me above all else, fear of others' judgements would vanish, as would attempts to impress others. Focus your attention on the path just ahead of you and on the One who never leaves your side."

Psalm 23:4; Matthew 7:1-2; Proverbs 29:25

24 September

"LIVE FIRST AND FOREMOST in My Presence. Gradually you will become more aware of Me than of people and places around you. this awareness will not detract from your relationships with others. Instead, it will increase your ability to give love and encouragement to them. My Peace will permeate your words and demeanor. You will be active in the world, yet one step removed from it. You will not be easily shaken, because My enveloping Presence buffers the blow of problems.

This is the path I have set before you. As you follow it whole-heartedly, you experience abundant Life and Peace. "

Psalm 89:15-16; Psalm 16:8; 2 Peter 1:2

23 September

"WALK WITH ME in the freedom of forgiveness. The path we follow together is sometimes steep and slippery. If you carry a burden of guilt on your back, you are more likely to stumble and fall. At your request, I will remove the heavy load from you and bury it at the foot of the cross. When I unburden you, you are undeniably free! Stand up straight and tall in My Presence, so that no one can place more burdens on your back. Look into My Face and feel the warmth of My Love-Light shining upon you. It is this unconditional Love that frees you from both fears and sins. Spend time basking in the Light of My Presence. As you come to know Me more and more intimately, you grow increasingly free."

Psalm 68:19; 1 John 1:7-9; 1 John 4:18

22 September

"TRUST ME AND REFUSE TO WORRY, for I am your Strength and Song. You are feeling wobbly this morning, looking at difficult times looming ahead, measuring them against your own strength. However, they are not today's tasks--or even tomorrow's. So leave them in the future and come home to the present, where you will find Me waiting for you. Since I am your Strength, I can empower you to handle each task as it comes. Because I am your Song, I can give you Joy as you work alongside Me.

Keep bringing your mind back to the present moment. Among all My creatures, only humans can anticipate future events. This ability isa  blessing, but it becomes a curse whenever it is misused. If you use your magnificent mind to worry about tomorrow, you cloak yourself in dark unbelief. However, when the hope of heaven fills your thoughts, the Light of My Presence envelops you. Though heaven is future, it is also present tense. As you walk in the Light with Me, you have one foot on earth and one foot in heaven."

Exodus 15:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Hebrews 10:23

21 September

"WAIT QUIETLY IN MY PRESENCE while My thoughts form silently in the depths of your being. Do not try to rush this process, because hurry keeps your heart earthbound. I am the Creator of the entire universe, yet I choose to make My humble home in your heart. It is there where you know Me most intimately; it is there where I speak to you in holy whispers. Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so that you can hear My still, small voice within you. I am speaking to you continually: words of Life...Peace...Love. Turn your heart to receive these messages of abundant blessing. Lay  your requests before Me and wait in expectation."

1 Kings 19:12; Psalm 5:3

20 September

"TRY TO SEE THING more and more from My perspective. Let the Light of My Presence so fully fill your mind that you view the world through Me. When little things don't go as you hoped, look to Me lightheartedly and say, "Oh, well." This simple discipline can protect you from being burdened with a accumulation of petty cares and frustrations. If you practice this diligently, you will make a life-changing discovery: you will realize that most of the things that worry you are not important.If you shrug them off immediately and return your focus to Me, you will walk through your days with lighter steps and a joyful heart. When serious problems come your way, you will have more reserves for dealing with them. You will not have squandered your energy on petty problems. You may even reach the point where you can agree with the apostle Pal that all your troubles are light and momentary, compared with the eternal glory being achieved by them. "

Proverbs 20:24; 2 Corinthians 4:17

19 September

"THERE IS A MIGHTY BATTLE going on for control of your mind. Heaven and earth interest in your mind; the tugs of both spheres influence your thinking. I created you with the capacity to experience foretastes of heaven. When you shut out the world and focus on My Presence, you can enjoy sitting with Me in heavenly realms. This is an incredible privilege reserved for precious ones who belong to Me and seek My Face. Your greatest strength is your desire to spend time communing with Me. As you concentrate of Me, My Spirit fills your mind with Life and Peace.

The world exerts a downward pull on your thoughts. Media bombard you with greed, lust, and cynicism. When you face these things, pray for protection and discernment. Stay in continual communication with Me whenever you walk through the wastelands of this world. Refuse to worry, because this form of worldliness will weigh you down and block awareness of My Presence. Stay alert, recognizing the battle being waged against your mind. Look forward to an eternity of strife-free living, reserved for you in heaven."

Ephesians 2:6; Psalm 27:8; Roman 8:6; 1 John 2:15-17

18 September

"SEEK TO PLEASE ME above all else. Let that goal be your focal point as you go through this day. Such a mind-set will protect you from scattering your energy to the winds. The free will I bestowed on you comes with awesome responsibility. Each day presents you with choice after choice. Many of these decisions you ignore and thus make by default. Without a focal point to guide you, you can easily lose your way. That's why it is so important to stay in communication with Me, living in thankful awareness of My presence. You inhabit a fallen, disjointed world, where things are constantly unraveling around the edges. Only a vibrant relationship with Me can keep your coming unraveled too."


Matthew 6:33; John 8:29; Colossians 3:23-24

17 September

"YOU WILL NOT FIND MY PEACE by engaging in excessive planning: attempting to control what will happen to you in the future. That is a commonly practiced form of unbelief. When your mind spins with multiple plans, Peace may sometime seem to be within your grasp; yet it always eludes you. Just when you think you have prepared for all possibilities, something unexpected pops up and throws things into confusion.

I did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with me. Bring Me all your needs, your your hopes and fears. Commit everything into My care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of Peace."

1 Peter 5:6-7; Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 37:5

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I wish I had read this one on the day I should have. I have gotten lost the last few days and am working on putting my feet back in front of myself, asking for His guidance more than ever. Reading this devotional made me cry; it hit me really hard.

Before my husband deployed recently, we were semi "trying" to conceive a child. I always told myself that I would never be the kind to track my cycle in order to conceive, to just let things happen naturally according to God's plan. Well, I think I got a little too excited in the thought of "trying" and ended up almost obsessively tracking where I'd be ovulating, highly fertile, all that... I haven't quiet felt myself and while I have a few signs of pregnancy, at the same it could be numerous other things that were just coincidence. I have taken two at home tests and both have been an absolute negative. I know there are false negatives, but before taking the last one, I was pretty convinced that I wasn't/am not pregnant. It still hurt me. Left me sad and disappointed and over-analyzing. I had come to a peace about it when praying, but seeing the single, very definitive "not pregnant" line... it hurt, it stung...it was a reminder that I didn't pray and ask for His guidance. I left out the One most important. And then it made me hurt even more that I did that. I knew I should have asked for His guidance...and getting the "not pregnant" seemed to me like He was telling me, "See what happens when you do not include me in your plans? In your hopes and dreams?" I know it doesn't always happen that way cause it sounds mean, but that is what it told me. And I feel so shameful, so hurt and sad inside. I've been praying and apologizing, acknowledging what I did wrong and that next time, when David comes home in a few months, that we have all the time in the world and when it is right, when it is His timing, then that is when it will be.

I know there are such things as a "false-negative" on home tests and my monthly is late--but I'm pretty certain that is about to start (I'm writing this on the 21st of Sept and I was due to start yesterday), which saddens me even more. I am praying and asking for His Peace once more... and to take my hurt away.

16 September

"I DESIGNED YOU to live union with Me. This union does not negate who you are; it actually makes you more fully yourself. When you try to live independently of Me, you experience emptiness and dissatisfaction. You may gain the whole world and yet lose everything that really counts.

Find fulfillment through living close Me, yielding to My purposes for you. Though I may lead you along paths that feel alien to you, trust that I know what I am doing. If you follow Me wholeheartedly, you will discover facets of yourself that were previously hidden. I know you intimately--fart better than you know yourself. In union with me, you are complete. In closeness to Me, you are transformed more and more into the one I designed you to be. "

Mark 8:36; Psalm 139:13-16; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

15 September

"REST IN ME, MY CHILD. This time devoted to me is meant to be peaceful, not stressful. you don't have to perform in order to receive My Love. I have boundless, unconditional Love for you. How it grieves Me to see My children working for Love: trying harder and harder, yet never feeling good enough to be loved.

Be careful that your devotion to Me does not become another form of works. I want you to come into My Presence joyfully and confidently. You have nothing to fear, for you wear My own righteousness. Gaze into My eyes, and you will see no condemnation, only Love and delight in the one I see. Be blessed as My Face shines radiantly upon you, giving you Peace." 

 John 15:13; Zephaniah 3:17; Numbers 6:25-26

14 September

"WORSHIP ME by living close to Me. This was My original design for man, into whom I breathed My very breath of Life. This is My desire for you: that you stay near Me as you walk along your life-path. Each day is an important part of that journey. Although you may feel as if you are going nowhere in this world, your spiritual journey is another matter altogether., taking you along steep, treacherous paths of adventure. That is why walking in the Light of My Presence is essential to keep you from stumbling. By staying close to Me, you present yourself as a living sacrifice. Even the most routine part of your day can be a a spiritual act of worship, holy and pleasing to Me." 

Genesis 2:7; Psalm 89:15; Romans 12:1-2

11 September

"REJOICE IN ME ALWAYS!" No matter what is going on, you can rejoice in your Love-relationship with Me. This is the secret of being content in all circumstances. So many people dream of the day when they will finally be happy; when they are out of debt, when their children are out of trouble,w hen they have more leisure time, and so on. While they daydream, their moments are trickling into the ground like precocious balm spilling wastefully from overturned bottles.

Fantasizing about future happiness will never bring fulfillment, because fantasy is unreality. Even though I am invisible, I am far more Real than the world you see around you. My reality is eternal and unchanging. Bring your moments to Me, and I will fill them with vibrant Joy. Now is the time to rejoice in My Presence."

Philippians 4:4, 12; Psalm 102:27

10 September

"I AM ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO YOU. Once you have trusted Me as your Savior, I never distance Myself from you. Sometimes you may feel distant from Me. Recognize that as feeling; do not confuse it with reality. The Bible is full of My promises to be with you always. As I assured Jacob, when he was journeying away from home into unkown laces, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.My last recorded promise to My followers was: Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Let these assurances of My continual Presence fill you with Joy and Peace. No matter what you may lose in this life, you can never lose your relationship with Me."

Isaiah 54:10; Genesis 28:15; Matthew 28:20

9 September

"WALK WITH ME along paths of trust. The most direct route between point A and point B on your life-journey is the path of unwavering trust in Me. When your faith falters, you choose a trail that meanders and takes you well out of your way. You will get to point B eventually, but you will have lost precious time and energy. As soon as you realize you have wandered from your trust path, look to Me and whisper, "I trust You, Jesus." This affirmation will help you get back on track.

The farther you roam along paths of unbelief, the harder it is to remember that I am with you. Anxious thoughts branch off in all directions, taking you farther and farther from awareness of My Presence. You need to voice your trust in Me frequently. This simple act of faith will keep you walking along straight paths with Me. Trust in Me with all your heart, and I will make your paths straight."

Isaiah 26:4; Psalm 9:10; Psalm 25:5; Proverbs 3:5-6

8 September

"ACCEPT EACH DAY exactly as it comes to you. By that, I mean not only the circumstance of your day but also the condition of your body. Your assignment is to trust Me absolutely, resting in My sovereignty and faithfulness.

On some days, your circumstance and your physical condition feel out of balance: the demands on you seem far greater than your strength. Days like that present a choice between two alternatives--giving up or relying on Me. Even if you wrongly choose the first alternative, I will not reject you. You can turn to Me at any point, and I will help you crawl out of the mire of discouragement. I will infuse My strength into you moment by moment, giving you all that you need for this day. Trust Me, by relying on My empowering Presence."

Psalm 42:5; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Jeremiah 31:25

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This is what I get for not reading my devotionals in the morning! Shame on me. I would have learned this lesson sooner had I read it before now. I had an incident at the barn today. I went out to ride around 11:30am (so a lot later than usual but I used to ride around that time a lot) and nearly threw up and fainted while washing my horse after our ride. I was doubled over, panting and trying to breath, when I stood up, I was dizzy and then felt all the energy and just...everything drain out of me while I continued to try and curry my horse's coat. I took off my hat and wet my hair with the cold water...and it seemed to help. Took a few good gulps from the hose as well (though I had been drinking water throughout the morning), and it also helped..but just for a few minutes. I continued to wash the shampoo off of my horse the best I could, while taking breaks and trying to breath, before I gave up and went and sat in my Barn Owner's A/C'd office for about 20min to cool down. I felt a lot better and finally was able to breath after some praying. I finished up with my horse and went home.. but I still do not feel so great. So incredibly drained.. though I had to go back into town to let a friend's dogs out and to feed them. So so tired.. bedtime I think.

7 September

"ENJOY THE WARMTH OF MY PRESENCE shining upon you. Feel your face tingle as you bask in My Love-Light. I delight in you more than you can imagine. I approve of you continuously; for I see you cloaked in My Light, arrayed in My righteousness. There is no condemnation for those who are clothed in Me! That is why I abhor the use of guilt as a means of motivatation among Christians.

Some pastors try to whip their people into action wit guilt-inducing sermons. This procedure can induce many people to work harder, but the end does not justify the means. Guilt-evoking messages can undermine the very foundation of grace in a believer's heart. A pastor may feel successful when his people are doing more, but I look at their hearts. I grieve when I see grace eroding, with weeds of anxious works creeping in. I want you to relax in the assurance of My perfect Love. The law of My Spirit of LIfe has freed you from the law of sin and death."

Isaiah 61:10; Romans 8:1-2

6 September

"DO EVERYTHING in dependence on Me. The desire to act independently--apart from Me--springs from the root of pride. Self-sufficiency is subtle, insinuating its way into your thoughts and actions without your realizing it. But apart from Me, you can do nothing: that is, nothing of eternal value. My deepest desire for you is that you learn to depend on Me in every situation. I move heaven and earth to accomplish this purpose, but you must collaborate with me in this training. Teaching you would be simple if I negated your free will or overwhelmed you with My Power. However, I love you too much to withdraw the godlike privilege I bestowed on you as My image-bearer. Use your freedom wisely, by relying on Me constantly. This you enjoy My Presence and My Peace. "

John 15:5 Ephesians 6:10; Genesis 1:26-27

5 September

"I AM YOUR BEST FRIEND, as well as your King. Walk hand in hand with me through your life. Together we will face whatever each day brings: pleasures, hardships, adventures, disappointments. Nothing is wasted when it shared with me. I can bring beauty out of the ashes of lost dreams. I can glean Joy out of sorrow, Peace out of adversity. Only a friend who is also the King of kings could accomplish this divine alchemy. There is no other like Me!

The friendship I offer you is practical and down-to-earth, yet it is saturated with heavenly glory. Living in My Presence means living in two reals simultaneously: the visible world and unseen, eternal reality. I have equipped you to stay conscious of me while walking along dusty, earthbound paths."

John 15:23-15; Isaiah 61:3; 2 Corinthians 6:10

4 September

"IN CLOSENESS TO ME, you are safe. In the intimacy of My Presence, you are energized. No matter where you are in the world, you know you belong when you sense my nearness. Ever since the Fall, man has experienced a gaping emptiness that only my Presence can fill. I designed you for close communication with your Creator. how I enjoyed walking in the garden with Adam and Eve, before the evil one deceived them!

When you commune with Me in the garden of your heart, both you and I are blessed. This is My way of living in the world--through you! Together we will push back the darkness, for I am the Light of the world." 

Psalm 32:7; Genesis 3:8-9; John 8:12

3 September

"LET THE DEW OF MY PRESENCE refresh your mind and heart. So many, many things vie for your attention in this complex world of instant communication. The world has changed enormously since I first gave the command to be still and know that I am God. However, this timeless truth is essential for the well-being of your soul. As dew refreshes grass and flowers during the stillness of the night, so My Presence revitalizes you as you sit quietly with me.

A refreshed, revitalized mind is able to sort out what is important and what is not. In its natural condition, your mind easily gets stuck on trivial matters. Like the spinning wheels of a car trapped in mud, the "cogs" of your brain spin impotently when you focus on a trivial thing. As soon as you start communicating with me about the matter, your thoughts gain traction and you can move on to more important things. Communicate with Me continually, and I will put My thoughts into your mind."

Psalm 46:10; Luke 10:39-42; 1 Corinthians 14:33

2 September

"LIVING IN DEPENDENCE ON ME is a glorious adventure. Most people scurry around with their noses to the ground, trying to accomplish things through their own strength and ability. Some succeed enormously; others fail miserably. But both groups miss what life is meant to be: living and working in collaboration with me.

When you depend on Me continually, your whole perspective changes. You see miracles happening all around, while others see only natural occurrences and "coincidences." You being each day with joyful expectation, watching to see what I will do. You accept weakness as a gift from Me, knowing that My power plugs in most readily to consecrated weakness. You keep your plans tentative, knowing that My plans are far superior. You consciously live, move, and have your being in Me, desiring that I live in you. I in you, and you in Me. This is the intimate adventure I offer you."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Acts 17:28; Colossians 2:6-7

1 September

"SEEK ME with your whole being. I desire to be found by you, and I orchestrate the events of your life with that purpose in mind. When things go well and you are blessed, you can feel Me smiling on you. When you encounter rough patches along your life-journey, trust that My Light is still shining upon you. My reasons for allowing these adversities may be shrouded in mystery, but My continual Presence with you is an absolute promise. Seek Me in good times; seek Me in hard times. You will find Me watching over you all the time."

Deuteronomy 4:29